I have been fortunate to spend the last 15 years of my life climbing in one of the most pristine climbing areas in the Northeast, the Shawangunk mountain range. For the last five years I have been working as a guide for one of the most established guide services in the area, High Angle Adventures which has been in business since 1974. These have been some of the best experiences of my life. Now I am the new owner of this guide service and it is my aim to provide the best possible climbing experience for our clients. I really enjoy meeting new people, sharing my climbing knowledge, and showing them the beauty that this wonderful area has to offer. I look forward to climbing and guiding here for many more years to come.

Jason Beaupre is an endurance athlete in training who has come to climbing after racing on the national downhill mountainbiking circuit for five years. Since 2000 he has climbed all over the United States and Canadian Rockies. He enjoys both rock and ice climbing, hiking, camping, biking of any kind, and especially long distance trail running. Having been mentored by some of the best climbers in the world (Scott Backes and Mark Synnott) he currently holds certifications for NY State license to guide Rock, Ice, and Hiking. Teaching is something that Jason really takes pleasure in and has taught everything from climbing to adventure racing to art classes for kids. He is an active volunteer for the Hudson Valley Mountain Rescue Squad, and has both Wilderness First Aid and CPR training. Jason currently lives one mile from the Mohonk Preserve with his wife and two sons and spends time everyday in the mountains.

Since 1988, when Jon Ross brought me into the fold of High Angle Adventures, I have been guiding rock climbers on the awe inspiring Shawangunk Ridge.I started climbing in 1984 after enrolling in a Phys Ed course at a local Community College,and was introduced to this unique mode of existence by Rosie Andrews and Rich Goldstone, who were our guides that weekend. Soon thereafter I relocated to Gardiner, NY to continue my education at the Shawangunk Hard Rock University.

In 1986 I was fortunate enough to have been offered the opportunity to work as a Ranger for the Mohonk Preserve by Thom Scheuer. I strive to follow Thom's example regarding the protection and promotion of the mission of the Mohonk Preserve, it's history of land stewardship, and it's rich tradition of which rock climbing has always been an important part of. I continued to work for the Preserve until I began my career with High Angle.

Jon Ross and I worked together for almost 20 years as High Angle Adventures, and although Jon has, for the most part, hung up his rack, I hope to continue working for at least the next 20 years with Bobby Ferrari, and the rest of the awesome crew at High-Xposure Adventures.
We would all be honored to have you climb with us soon!

Putting aside all of life's other distractions, I focused almost exclusively on climbing after having discovered the sport (or, more accurately, "way of life") as an adolescent. Despite my resolve to let nothing interfere with my climbing obsession, I managed to complete a college degree in 1965. I have climbed extensively in most major US climbing centers and did some mountaineering in the Andes of South America.

Unable to contain or restrain my enthusiasm, I "forced" several of my friends to let me introduce them to the world of climbing. Many folks commented on my ability to organize, present and articulate what is a fairly extensive and complex body of knowledge and information. Sharing that material with friends provided me with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Soon I found myself teaching people who were recommended by friends. At this point I made a decision to become a climbing guide.

I started High Angle in 1974, and did lots of other things to support my guiding habit. After a few years, as the demand for instruction began to increase, I hired other climbers who also had some aptitude, as well as passion, for teaching and who demonstrated a high degree of safety awareness.

Obviously, over the years I have seen vast changes in the sport in general and in guiding specifically. The "body of knowledge" we speak about and which a guide has to "own" has been organized and codified by the American Mountain Guides Association. Their program utilizes, to a great extent, the long-established European model of extensive training courses and a rigorous field exam. All of us in the guiding business can clearly see the dramatic increase in the level of, professionalism, accomplishment and preparedness of AMGA trained guides.

As High Angle begins its 30th season, I continue to be inspired by the joy, satisfaction, and achievement which our students share with us.

Dave Leahy lives in New Paltz, and has been climbing for 10 years. He is an N.Y.S. liscensed guide, and a volunteer on the Hudson Valley Mountain Rescue team. Dave is Red cross First Aid and C.P.R. certified, a formerly certified N.Y.S. E.M.T.. Dave is also a former U.S. Army combat medic and rappeling instructor, has 12+ years of extentsive martial arts training, is a martial arts instructor, and an AMGA Rock Instructor Course Graduate.

Some of Dave's other interests are ice climbing, trail running, hiking, mountain biking, and snow boarding.

Sue Kligerman was in the military from 1983 through 1987.
She served in the Army, 101st Airborne, Air assault.
Ms Kligerman earned her Bachelor of Science (1991) from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.
She taught Physical Education at Cheltenham High School until 1998. During her tenure there she also spent six summers working as an Adventure Based Counselor at West Chester University with students from the Philadelphia School District. Rock Climbing was one of the many components of the summer program.
Ms Kligerman was so infatuated with the sport that she moved to New York to be closer to the best traditional climbing area on the east coast, the Shawangunk Mountains, also known as "The Gunks."
She was a full-time Rock Climbing guide in the Gunks for many years.
She spent her winters guiding in El Potrero Chico, Mexico. She is one of the few women AMGA certified Level 1 Rock Instructors.
Ms Kligerman is currently employed at The United States Military Academy. In 2007 she earned a Masters Degree in Education. She works in the Department of Physical Education teaching Rock Climbing, Military Movement and Combatives.
She is the assistant coach of the USMA Climbing Team.

Pete began climbing on the river bluffs of Pennsylvania around the age of 12 (or 13). He instantly took to the sport and has been climbing ever since. He made his first trip to the Gunks a few years later and it quickly became his "other home". He moved here permanently and began guiding after living for a season in a tent in the late 80's.Pete has spent his lifetime following his two passions of climbing and music. In addition to guiding Pete teaches piano and composition privately and at Dutchess Community College. He loves the many great experiences that climbing has to offer as well as the great places it can take you, and enjoys sharing the sport with his clients.Pete has climbed throughout the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico, and has guided in many of these areas as well.2009 will be his 30th year climbing in the Gunks.

Eric is a New York native whose first introduction to rock climbing was in the Gunks at the age of 12 with his father. His professional guiding career began in 2000, and includes work experience in rock, alpine, and ice climbing terrain from Washington State to New Hampshire. Eric facilitates our AMGA climbing instructor programs via High Xposure's partnership with his company, Certified Climbing Instructor. He currently resides in Boulder, CO.

Please email Eric directly with any AMGA-related inquiries: info@certifiedclimbinginstructor.com

Certifications:
• AMGA Certified Rock Instructor
• AMGA SPI Director
• AMGA Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI) Provider
• WFR & CPR
• Leave No Trace (LNT) Trainer
• NYSDEC Licensed Rock and Ice Guide